Leoċán Ó hEaġra

To celebrate the autumn equinox, I would like to share with you one of my favorites songs, Gaoth Barra na dTonn. My favorite rendition is Clannad’s, but it’s a very beautiful and haunting example of ancient poetry put to more modern mediums. I’ve written out the lyrics, below.

@PangurBn10 This wouldn’t surprise me at all, with the level of fine detail they etched into that calf-skin.

‘The Book of Kells is actually a blueprint for medieval CPUs…’

This Celtic revivalism dagger from around the 1800s is super cool

Kevin O’Leary criticizing Gen Z’s spending habits:

@lindymasterson I had never considered that!! It’s such a beautiful piece. Here’s a higher resolution photo from my trip last year…

The beautiful Tara Brooch ,am i the only one who sees the Solar bull on the pin here n a double headed eagle(2 heads above the greenstone) below its outstretched wings making the base,cant help compare its design to the Hunterston brooch of Scotland(pictish)('La Tene style')

@nijineko33 Absolutely gorgeous!! Every place there abounds in natural or architectural beauty!

Ireland is genuinely enchanting. Every stretch of space across the island is steeped in ancient history, fascinating folklore. The time I’ve spent there is the happiest I’ve been in my life. And having the passion for photography, you have endless, profound possibilities.

@N_na_nG That one is Dún Briste! As far as I remember, that one has a legend of being inhabited by Crom Cruach, rather than the Donn.

@That_Conduit Is that last one Teaċ Donn?

@PeteFarrell14 All it would take is one piece of city beautification legislation and we could have some gorgeous Irish murals to brighten it up. There are systemic issues Ireland is facing right now, but it has vastly better chance of rectifying them compared to the U.S. or the U.K.!!

What about Harbour Court

@MonkehPutler I completely see where you’re coming from, but not all is lost! Ireland is so fortunate for the concentration of culture and history abounding there, and there are still so many people who believe it can survive. It’s time for the next Gaelic revival era! Take heart, a chara!

@That_Conduit It's different if you live here. The declinism is palpable. Though your pictures do also show a similar vibe. Mostly a Christian past that will never return.

@starbvrster I hope you get the chance to go back to Ireland again soon! I’m hoping for the very same. There are places in Sligo that will live rent free in my head for the rest of my life! You should also absolutely see Clonmacnoise and Court Abbey, if you haven’t yet!

@That_Conduit Míle buíochas, a chara! I can see why such a place would be so dear to your heart. I plan on coming back to Ireland many times yet, and this is definitely a haven for the soul that I can't miss 💚

@starbvrster This glorious arch is to be found at the Abbey of Cong, in Mayo! This place is so dear to my heart. The first temple there was founded by Saint Féichín, from the tribe that begat the O’Haras! Cong comes from Cúnga Fhéichín, Féichín’s Narrows. Ard Rí Ruaidhrí retired to there!

@That_Conduit Beautiful work 💚 Where is the arch in the third pic located?

@AngloIrsh_Rebel It’s true, I’ve not spent much time at all around Dublin! My wife and I spent an afternoon there just for the National Museum. Other than that, I tried to spend the vast majority of my time there in Connacht! I wanted to explore the hereditary O’Hara tuath in Sligo and Mayo.

@That_Conduit I see you've never visited Drimnagh or Finglas.

@Deiscirt Truly!! Here in the States, it’s difficult to find anything more ancient than 300-400 old. But in each county of Ireland, just going down the street you could see an 800 year old castle, further down a 5,000 year old dolmen. The concentration of history there is mind-boggling.

@That_Conduit When I moved from Ireland to the "New World" I noticed that the land feels different. Every square inch of Ireland has been touched, coveted, treasured, fought over. Australia and the US are beautiful too. But in a very different way. "Steeped" is the right word.

@InLumineDomini I completely agree. Having set foot there myself and looked his visage eye to eye, I have such a profound appreciation for the spirit of the Gael. Still alive not just in us, but still in the land and language, mar tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. Irish song lyrics evoke this.

@That_Conduit May we perpetuate the legacy of our forebears into the present generation - I believe they remain with us in spirit.

@InLumineDomini I’m nearly in the same boat! My mother was born a Malone, and the original Mael Eoin was the nephew of good ol’ Ruaidhrí! It’s so fascinating how the royal lines of Gaelic Ireland have persisted through to the present day. My eponymous ancestor chief Eaghra lived until 926CE!

@That_Conduit The third picture is my distant ancestor.

@EoinLenihan @greenshame Absolutely loved reading this. It’s true, being there in person with these ancient monuments is a surreal experience. You’re standing where your ancestors stood and worshiped for countless years. I’m very fortunate to have spent some special time in Sligo to trace these steps.

When you approach one of these majestic monuments in their natural setting in the landscape - not behind the velvet ropes of the state - you are presented with your ancestors, a tangible and direct line to the people from whom you are descended. Nothing stands between you and them and to touch these stones is to lay your hands where their hands lay in construction of this monument. A monument that was a statement of pride and intent in preserving their own civilisational achievements and beliefs, and a statement to all who would follow that they existed and that they wanted us, their descendants, to remember and carry with us their great achievements, beliefs and ambitions. Much of their initial significance is lost but as long as we lay claim to these monuments on a personal level and vow to protect them for the next generation, we have not only reinforced our own identity as Irish people and a discernable and ancient race of people, but we ensure the next generation can commune with our ancient past and gather a deep sense of cultural self-assuredness also. It is important that every Irish person walks the land, communes with it deeply and has, at the very least, one monument that is their personal mnemonic, their personal anchor to the land and its people going back millennia. 👇👇👇

Mike Johnson making a strong case that minimum wage starts at 174k/yr

@jamie_o1999 You should! It’s not too far to the east from Sligo Town and Collooney. Serene place. It actually the ancestral burial location of one branch of the clan for a few centuries. There are visible bones behind one of the O’Hara headstones. I need to go back there, truly.

@That_Conduit Stunning, most visit sometime. It possibly could be a piscina, looks like there is a hollowed depression in the centre, depending on its location in the abbey. It could very well be a font for holy water also.

Piscinas 1. Roscommon Dominican friary 2. Trim castle, Meath 3 & 4. Double piscinas at Kilconnell friary, Galway